..::Bangladesh High Commission, Islamabad(Pakistan)::..

History in Brief
Recorded history is traceable to 4th century B.C. and shows clear evidence of a flourishing civilization with cities, palaces, temples, forts, seats of learning and monasteries;

• 1200 A.D.: Advent of the Muslims, periods of prosperity under Muslim rule;
• 17th century - A time of economic well-being;
• 1757: Beginning of British colonial rule;
• 1947: Departure of the British from Indian subcontinent;
• Bangladesh becomes "East Bengal/East Pakistan";
• 1971: Emergence of the sovereign state of Bangladesh through an armed struggle for freedom.

Geographical Location : Bangladesh lies across the Tropic of Cancer, in the northeastern part of South Asia between 20o.34' and 26.38' north latitude and longitudes 88.01' and 92.41' east.

The country is bordered by India on the west, north and the northeast, Myanmar is on the southeast and the Bay of Bengal is on the south. Strategically located, Bangladesh is virtually a bridge between South and Southeast Asia.

Official Name:
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh

CapitalCity :
Dhaka

Form of Government:
Parliamentary form of Government headed by the Prime Minister. The President is the constitutional head of the State.

Boundaries:
North: India (West Bengal & Meghalaya); West: India (West Bengal); East: India (Tripura & Assam) and Myanmar; South: Bay of Bengal.

Area:
147,570 sq km (Territorial waters - 12 nautical miles)

Capital:
Dhaka (Metropolitan area 522 sq km)

Standard Time:
GMT + 6 hours

Climate:
Sub-tropical monsoon Winter (December-February) Temperature: average maximum 290C, average minimum 110C Summer (April-June) Temperature: average maximum 320C, average minimum 210C

Rainfall:
1194 mm to 3454 mm (average during monsoon season, June-August)

Humidity:
Highest: 99% (July); Lowest: 36% (December-January)

Vegetation:
Grassland, mixed evergreen and evergreen

Population:
140 million

Population Growth Rate :
1.42 %

Adult Literacy Rate :
15 years+: 65%

Ethnic Groups :
Mixed group of Proto Austroloids/ Dravidians, Mongoloids and Aryans.

Language:
Bangla: 95 % (English is widely spoken)

Religion:
Muslim (88.3%), Hindu (10.5%), Buddhist (0.6%), Christian, Others (0.3%)

Food:
Rice, vegetables, pulses, fish and meat

Principal Crops:
Rice, wheat, jute, tea, tobacco and sugarcane

Principal Rivers:
Padma, Brahmaputra, Jamuna,Meghna, Karnaphuli, Teesta, etc. Total of 230 rivers, including tributaries

Mineral Resources:
Natural gas, limestone, hard rock, coal, lignite, silica sand, white clay, radio active sand, etc.

Human Resources:
A substantial manpower reserve; trained and skilled engineers, technicians, physicians, economists, accountants, administrative and managerial personnel; abundance of low-cost, easily trainable and adaptable, hard-working, intelligent and youthful labour force.

Population:
Social life in Bangladesh is marked by rich traditions and communal harmony. The population of the country currently stands at around 133 Million. Around 75 percent of the people live in rural areas while 60 percent of the population depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Rice and fish constitute the common diet. There are about 1.8 million minority people, the majority of whom live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The tribes maintain their traditional cultural distinction.

Official Language:
Bangla

Standard Time:
GMT plus 6 hours

Currency:
Taka/TK(US$1=Tk. 69.06) approx. (as on 31 Aug. 2009)

GDP at Current Price:
US$57 billion (2004)

Per Capita GDP:
US$421 (2004)

GNP Per Capita:
US$444 (2004)

GDP Growth Rate:
5.33% (2004)

Sectoral Contribution in GDP:
Agriculture 23.46%
Industry 25.62%
Services 50.92%

Industrial Growth Rate(at 1996 Constat Price):
7.41%

Inflation Rate :
5.1%

Investment Rate:
23.6% of GDP

National Savings Rate:
24.5% of GDP

Exports:
US$7.6 billion (2003-2004)

Imports:
US$ 10.9 billion (2003-2004)

Bank Rate:
5%

Principal Industries:
Jute, tea, textiles, garments, paper, newsprint, fertilizer, leather and leather gods, sugar, cement, fish processing, pharmaceuticals, chemical industries, etc.

Tradtional Export Items:
Raw jute, jute manufactures (Hessian sacking, carpet backing, carpets), jute products, tea, leather, leather products etc.

Non-Tradtional Export Items:
Garments, frozen shrimps, other fish products, newsprint, paper, naphtha, furnace oil, urea, ceramic products etc.

Major Imports:
Wheat, oil, seeds, crude petroleum, raw cotton, edible oil, petroleum products, fertilizer, cement, staple fibers, yarn, iron and steel, capital goods, etc.

Major Trading Partners:
USA, EU countries, India, China, Japan. Singapore, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudia Arabia, UAE.

International Airports:
Zia International Airport, Dhaka , Chittagong International Airport, Chittagong and Osmani International Airport, Sylhet.

Domestic Airports:
Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Thakurgaon, Syedpur, Rajshahi, Jessore and Barisal.

Sea Ports:
Chittagong and Mongla.

Inland River Ports:
Dhaka, Chanpur, Barisal, Khulna, Bhariab, Narayangonj, Sirajganj etc

Employment & Labour Force:
Civilian labour force: 60.3 million
Male: 37.5 million
female 22.8 million
Distribution of labour force:
Agriculture - 62.3%
Industry - 8.3%
Others - 29.40%

Principal Rivers:
Ganges/Padma, Brahmaputra/Jamuna, Meghna, Karnaphuli, Teesta, etc. (total 230 rivers including tributaries).

Seasons:
Winter (November-February), Summer (March-June), Monsoon (July-October).

Mineral Resources:
Natural gas, limestone, hard rock, coal, lignite, silica sand, white clay, etc. (There is a strong possibility of oil deposits).

National Flag:

The National Flag is in bottle green and rectangular in size in the proportion of length to width 5:3 bearing a red circle on the body of the green, the red circle has a radius of one-fifth of the length of the flag. The background green symbolizes the greenery and the youthfulness. The red disc represents the rising sun of independence after the dark night of a blood-drenched struggle.